Bowling game kit



D. C. BROWN BOWLING GAME KIT Oct. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1959 Oct. 23, 1962 D. c. BYROWN BOWLING CAME KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1959 'INVENTOR Dwighf c. Browiti' ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 D. c. BowN 3,059,924

BOWLING GAME KIT Filed June 19, 1959 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7- 3g INVENTOR Dwight c. [Brawn BY MTMA ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1962 D. c. BROWN BOWLING GAME KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 19, 1959 FIG. I7.

||||||| N 7 l 4 l l l I I llh 6 III! lil l 4 L -llll IIIE/ 5 4 .1 4 4 llllh 1 Iv 4 6 I m F INYENTOR. Dwight C. Bfown Oct. 23, 1962 D. 0. BROWN BOWLING GAME KIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1959 ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,059,924 BOWLING GAME KIT Dwight C. Brown, 414 N. Granada St., Ariington, Va. Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,409 4 Claims. ((11. 27337) My invention relates to a ten pin or duck pin type of bowling game kit for home use on the floor of a room or for outdoor use on a smooth surface.

One object of the invention is to provide in a game of this type, a portable pin-spotter that facilitates gathering, assembling and single action accurate spotting and sliding action placement of the pins in set-up position ready for play.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pin spotter component capable of engaging and lifting the pins from the floor, when required, and replacement on the floor in an accurate spotted position ready for play.

A still further object is to provide a pin spotter having individual pin openings or cells with a slightly larger diameter than the largest diameter of the pin, the openings or cells extending above and below the large diameter of the pins to permit manual sliding of the assembled pins without throwing the pins substantially out of a true vertical position.

One of the features of the invention is the novel and efiicient packaging of the pins, balls and pin spotter in a container so designed, proportioned and arranged to serve as a permanent compact carrying case.

Another feature of the invention is the unique construction of the carrying case which is designed so that two sides fold out to provide a back-stop that facilitates gathering of the pins knocked down in play.

Still another feature of the invention is a package or container for bowling game components, pins and balls that can be quickly and easily converted for use as a pin-spotter in a bowling game.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a folding collapsible type pin spotter which can be conveniently packaged, with the pins, in a knocked down position and which can easily and quickly be assembled for play.

While all the modifications are especially adaptable for use with plastic and similar composition pins and balls, they can also be used with pins and balls made of wood or metal. The carrying case and the pin-spotter, although suitably adapted to fabrication from paperboard material, can also be fabricated either wholly or in part from metal, plywood, veneer and laminated material having a wood core with paper or paperboard on one side or both sides. The term paperboard as used herein refers to and includes corrugated board, fibreboard and other paper and fibrous products. The paperboard material may be wholly or partly treated with resins, inorganic silicates, glues, synthetic rubber compounds, moisture proofing materials, plastics and similar type materials for stiffening and strengthening purposes.

Referring to the drawings for a more complete disclosure of the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of bowling game kit showing the portable pin-spotter at the right and at the left the carrying case is positioned and arranged to provide a back-stop in play;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the game kit in partially open position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the assembled kit in closed position ready for transporting or storage;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the pin engagement feature of the pin-spotter which secures the pins to enable lifting them from the floor;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a pin positioned in the pin-spotter;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view showing the layout of the "ice cut and scored fibreboard or other material which, when folded and assembled, constitutes the pin-spotterg FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of a combination shipping container, carrying case and pin-spotter with the second deck in an exploded position;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the second deck of the container of FIGURE 7 inverted to provide a pin-spotter;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the form of FIG- URE 7 showing the position of the lid when ready for insertion of pins;

FIGURE 10 is a detail perspective view of the form of FIGURE 7 showing the partial engagement of the pins when the tab of the lid is pulled forward;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the position of the second deck to provide space for the packed balls and the pins when the pins are arranged in horizontal position;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 9 showing the second deck in an inverted position to provide the pin-spotter;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of collapsible type pin-spotter having a foldable deck and insert sleeves for holding pins in a vertical position during sliding action when the pins are being spotted;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view showing one form of a folding sleeve insert;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary horizontal detail view showing a sleeve insert in the deck spotter of FIG- URE 13;

FIGURE 17 is a plan view showing the layout of the cut and scored fiberboard or other material which, when folded, constitutes the sleeve insert shown in FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is a side elevation of the deck spotter of FIGURE 13 in a collapsed folded position;

FIGURE 19 is a plan view of another modified form of a collapsible type pin-spotter having a foldable deck and rigid tube inserts;

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line flit-20 of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is an exploded perspective view of a rigid cylindrical sleeve insert in an elliptical hole in the spotter deck;

FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of a modified form of a partitioned collapsible folding pin-spotter;

FIGURE 23 is a side view showing the folded spotter deck of FIGURE 19 arranged for convenient packaging; and

FIGURE 24 is a perspective view of the form of FIGURE 22 in a partially collapsed position.

Referring to the kit shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, it comprises a triangular container A and a triangular pinspotter B adapted to fit in the container. The pin-spotter B has a bottom deck 1, a second deck 2, sides 3 and a lid 4 connected by a hinge 5 to the top of one of the sides 3. The bottom and second decks are provided with apertures 6 and 7, respectively, to receive and hold the pins 8 in a vertical position as shown in FIGURE 5. The apertures in the lid 4 are provided with U-shaped cutouts 9 slightly larger than the neck of the pins and located at the back part of the pin opening 6a. The lid 4 is provided with a tab 10 for moving the lid 4 above the hinge 5. The hinge 5 has three parts 5a, 5b, and 5c, and provides for the forward movement of the lid 4 when the tab is pulled forward to engage the pins in the cutouts 9. This triple hinge arrangement also makes it possible for the lid 4 to lay fiat with the pin holes 6a in proper alignment with the openings 6 and 7 of the lower decks as shown in FIGURE 5.

The fabrication of the pin-spotter B particularly from fibreboard material and similar type products is shown in the layout of FIGURE 6. A single sheet is scored and diecut to provide simple assembly by folding along the scored lines II. Tabs 12 and side pieces 13 are secured to the sides 3 by any suitable means to hold the parts in the assembled relationship of the pin-spotter.

The triangular container A maybe made from one or more pieces of fibreboard or other suitable material and has a tray portion 14 in which the pin-spotter B fits closely. The top 15 of the container A is pivotally connected to the back side 16 of the container. Pivotally connected to the sides of the container are two supplemental foldout sides 17 and 13 which swing out to provide the backstop side walls which, when in the playing position shown in FIGURE 1, provide a back-stop. For holding these sides in proper back-stop position as shown in FIGURE 1 are strips 19 and 2t} pivotally mounted on the sides and which at their ends interlock with slots 21 and 22 when the container is arranged in playing position as shown in FIGURE 1. In folded position, they engage the sides 23 and 24 of the tray 14.

In closed position the two sides 17 and 18 of container A are folded against the sides of the tray 14 and the pinspotter B. The end 25 of the side 17 folds over the top and has a snap-on fastener 26 that engages the part 27 on the side 18. In this packed form the pins E are stored in the pin-spotter B and the balls 29 are arranged on top of the pin-spotter between the pins and this assembly fits in the container A which can be carried around by the handles 28.

For playing action the container A is opened and the balls 29, pins 8, and pin-spotter B are removed and the two sides 17 and T8 of the case folded back and secured in position to form the back-stop, as shown in FIGURE 1. The pins 8 are then placed in the pin-spotter B which is properly positioned by sliding or lifting in front of back-stop T6. The pins 8 are then accurately spotted by raising the pin-spotter B vertically up over the tops of the pins.

As the game is generally played by two or more people, each participant will take a turn in performing the functions of a pin boy. Progressively as the pins are knocked down the participant acting as pin boy, and stationed adjacent to one side of the back-stop, picks up the knocked down pins from the floor and places them in the pin-spotter. After the required number of balls have been thrown and all pins have been placed in the pinspotter, the player acting as pin boy slides or lifts the pinspotter with the pins intact to the proper location and spots the pins. In some instances rugs or other floor obstructions may prevent sliding of the pin-spotter with pins intact. In such cases the pin-spotter is lifted with the pins intact by pulling the pin-spotter tab forward, causing the lid 4 to engage the top part of the pins as shown in FIGURE 4, thus providing the means for the lifting action. After lifting and removal of the pinspotter intact, with pins to spotting location, the tab is pushed or moved backward causing the lid or top deck to disengage the pins. The pin-spotter is then lifted up over the pins.

The dimensions of the container A and pin-spotter B will vary according to the size of the pins and balls used. It is important that the bottom deck and the second deck be positioned the required height from floor level, respectively for each deck, to provide contact with pin sides around the large diameter of the pin during sliding action on the floor or when lifted by using the pull tab 10. This is essential for proper securing of the pins within the pinspotter during transfer of the pin-spotter intact with pins to set-up areas. The proper proportionate height for the two decks is shown in FIGURE 5.

In forming the triangular combination carrying case and back-stop, shown in FIGURE 3, from one sheet, the corners are formed by scoring and use of glue, staples, stitching, adhesive tape, or other suitable means. In lieu 4 of fabrication from only one sheet of fibreboard or other suitable material, the cover 15, tray 14 and the back-stop side walls 17 and 18 may be scored and cut from separate sheets of material and assembled together by use of glue, staples, stitching, adhesive tape or other suitable means.

The modified form shown in FIGURES 7 to 12 is a combination container or carrying case and pin-spotter. This kit provides for a compact horizontal arrangement of the pins in the carrying case when not in use. The horizontal packing arrangement of the pins enables the kit to be of less size and cubic displacement and, hence, fabrication costs are less than the type illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 3, which provides for housing the pins in the container in vertical position. The kit consists of a triangular tray 30 having a raised first deck 31 with holes 32 for pins 33, a lid 34- with holes 35 for pins 33 attached by a triple hinge arrangement 36 to one side of tray 30, and a removable second deck 37 with holes 38. A pull tab is secured to the lid 34. When the second deck 37 is nested in the tray 3t as shown in FIGURE 11, there is provided maximum storage space between the first deck 31 and the second deck 37. To provide for changing the horizontal level of the deck 37, strips 39 are secured to the inside of the side walls of the tray 30. When the second deck 37 is placed in the tray 30 in an inverted position, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 12, and the lid 34 closed, it can then be used as a pin-spotter as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10.

The dimensions of the kit shown in FIGURES 7 to 12 Will be in accordance with the dimensions of the pins and balls currently sold on the market. In most instances, the pins and balls are proportionate to the sizes of pins and balls used in a regulation ten pin or duck pin bowling alley game. With such true proportionate sizes used with the kit, the diameter of the pins will be less than half of the height of the pins and the diameter of the ball will exceed the diameter of the pins. The feature which enables the modified form kit shown in FIGURES 7 to 12 to be used both as a container carrying case and a pinspotter is the removable invertible second deck.

To convert the container carrying case shown in FIG- URE 7 to a pin-spotter, the second deck 37 is removed, inverted and then re-inserted in the container, the edge part of the horizontal fiat section resting on the strips 39 located alongside the inner Wall. With this arrangement, the two decks are brought closer together to provide the necessary contact around the large diameter part of the pin required to stabilize and secure the pin in proper position during sliding action on the floor or when lifted by using the pull tab 40.

Tabs or other suitable fastening means may be employed to secure the lid to the wall of the container when such is packed and closed for shipment, storage or handling.

Although the pin-spotter arrangement shown in the two types of kits, FIGURES 4 and 9, show an extendable lid or top deck with pull tab for engaging the narrow part of the pins for lifting purposes, it is understood that an alternate arrangement using only two decks may be used. However, such an arrangement limits the pin-spotter to sliding the pins in position and does not permit lifting the pins from the floor.

In the modified form shown in FIGURE 7, a fully enclosed dust-proof pack for shipping purposes can be provided by the insertion of two paperboard or fibreboard triangular shaped sheets, one sheet being placed inside the container resting on the bottom deck, and the other sheet placed on top of the pins and balls and under the second deck prior to closure. For display purposes the upper sheet can be removed and the pins inserted in the openings in a vertical position.

Although only triangular shaped carrying cases and pinspotters are shown herein, it is understood that kits including carrying cases and pin-spotters and the modified form of combination carrying case and pin-spotter having the features embodied in this invention can be made, using rectangular shaped containers and forms. In such appli cation, the deck openings for housing of the pins would be arranged in the same regulation triangular manner indicated in the illustrations included herein.

The modified pin spotters shown in FIGS. 13-24 are collapsible and hence can be conveniently packaged with the pins and balls in bags or boxes in a knock-down position and easily and quickly assembled when ready for play.

The form shown in FIGS. 13-18 consists of two components, a deck 41 comprising a piece of fiberboard or other similar material scored along the line 42 and having circular cutouts 43 and rectangular sleeves 44 made from the same type of material as the deck and inserted in the cutouts 43 for receiving the pins. The strip 46 out of which the insert 44 is formed is scored along the lines 47 to permit folding. For convenient packaging purposes, the deck 41 and the sleeve inserts 44 can be folded one or more times. To set up for play, the sleeves 44 are inserted in the holes 43 in the deck, the small cut-outs 45 in the corner parts of the sleeves engaging the sides of holes 43 in the deck to secure the sleeves in the required vertical position.

The form shown in FIGS. 19-21 is similar to that of FIGS. 13-18 in that it has two components, a deck and sleeve inserts. The deck 48 of fiberboard or other similar material, has elliptical cut-outs 49 for the pins and the inserts comprise cylindrical tubes 51 having slots 50 on two sides as shown in FIG. 21 for receiving the pins. For convenient packaging, the deck 48 can be folded along scored line 52 and the tube inserts 51 are placed around the pins to conserve space. To set up for play the tube inserts 51 are inserted in the holes 49 in the deck 48, with the cut-out portions 50 of the insert engaging the sides of the narrow diameter of the deck holes 49. This provides for securing the inserts in a vertical position.

The form shown in FIGS. 22-24 is a partitioned type of pin spotter made from interlocking slotted pieces 53 of fiberboard or other similar material. The strips 53 have slits 54 engaging corresponding slits 55. This permits folding from the open expanded position of FIG. 22 to the folded position of FIG. 24. This form of pin spotter can be furnished and packaged completely knocked-down or it can be packaged in a collapsed form as shown in FIG. 24. When furnished in the collapsed form shown in FIG. 24, assembly for play requires only the insertion of one slotted strip to secure the pin spotter in proper pin spotting triangular position.

The operation of the pin spotters shown in FIGS. 13, 19 and 22 is similar to the operation of the pin spotters 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The extra lid lifting feature of FIGS. 1 and 7 can be used with the spotters illustrated in FIGS. 13, 19 and 24 when desired. In such application the top lifting lid would be hinged to the deck component. In manually sliding the pin spotter to position, the pin 8 of FIG. 5 and the pin 52 of FIG. 20 will be prevented from being thrown out of the vertical too much by contacting the upper and lower sides of the openings or cells, above and below the large diameter of the pin. This construction provides suflicient vertical contact with the sides of the opening so that the pins remain in a substantially vertical position during sliding motion and release of the pins when spotted in a true vertical position.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable hand setting pin spotter for use in bowling comprising a member adapted to rest on a support having a bottom deck spaced from the support, a second deck spaced from the bottom deck, a lid overlying the decks and hinged to the member, overlying apertures in the bottom and second decks and the lid to receive and hold bowling pins in a vertical position, and means for locking the pins in the member to permit lifting the pin spotter with the pins intact.

2. A portable hand setting pin spotter comprising a member adapted to rest on a support having a bottom deck spaced from the support, a second deck spaced from the bottom deck, a lid overlying the decks and hinged to the member, overlying apertures in the bottom and second decks and the lid to receive and hold bowling pins in a vertical position, and means for locking the pins to the lid to permit lifting the pin spotter with the pins intact.

3. The pin spotter of claim 2, in which the hinge between the lid and the member has a plurality of parts to permit movement of the lid substantially parallel to the second deck to lock the pins to the lid and to permit the lid to lay flat with the apertures in alignment with the apertures in the decks.

4. The pin spotter of claim 1, in which the second deck is reversible, in one position acting as a pin spotter and in the other position forming a part of a container for the pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,890 Backus Jan. 9, 1906 1,564,054 Fisher Dec. 1, 1925 1,623,518 Allen Apr. 5, 1927 2,300,802 Parra et a1. Nov. 3, 1942 2,668,712 Kling Feb. 9, 1954 

